PORT ST. LUCIE — Jacob deGrom won the Cy Young Award this past year. Zack Wheeler could win one this year for the Mets if he pitches as he did the last 11 starts of the 2018 season.

Noah Syndergaard told The Post earlier in the week Wheeler was his “sleeper” pick to win the Cy Young. That would be perfect timing for Wheeler, who is a free agent after the 2019 season.

When told Friday of Syndergaard’s comment, the 28-year-old Wheeler smiled and said: “I’m just going to go out there and try to win it. I’m just trying to get better every year. I had a good second half, and if I can continue to do that a whole season, I’ll be in good shape.”

Wheeler does not lack confidence because he is healthy as he blossoms under the tutelage of pitching coach Dave Eiland and manager Mickey Callaway.

The right-hander would be a terrific fit for the Braves — he lives outside Atlanta — so the Mets need to make sure they can keep Wheeler in their rotation for the long haul.

“I’m here right now, [and] that’s all I’m worried about,” Wheeler said about his upcoming free-agent status after participating in his first day of pre-camp, at one point throwing a bullpen session alongside deGrom and Syndergaard. “All that stuff will figure itself out, and I will worry about that later. You know it’s coming up and you want to have a good year, but at the same time, it’s about what’s now. I’m here with the Mets, and this is where I want to win, and that’s what’s happening right now.”

Over his final 11 starts last season, Wheeler went 9-1 with a 1.68 ERA and 73 strikeouts over 75 innings, allowing just three home runs and posting a 0.81 WHIP.

His nine second-half victories were tied for the most in the majors, and his 1.68 ERA was the lowest in the majors after the All-Star break (minimum 75.0 innings).

Wheeler fanned seven or more batters 17 times, the most such games in a season in his career (he had 13 games with seven or more punch-outs in 2014). Only three NL pitchers (Max Scherzer, 26, deGrom, 25, and Patrick Corbin, 24) had more.

Wheeler completed at least six innings in 23 of his 29 starts, including 19 of his last 22. So what’s next?

“Going seven or eight innings was a big step for me last year, I was mad when I only got six,” Wheeler said. “You’re always trying to get better, so maybe some complete games. You’re always trying to get a no-hitter. Maybe I can get one of those this year.’’

Wheeler won a career-high 12 games in 2018 and posted a 3.31 ERA, the lowest mark of his career, and also set a new career-best in WHIP (1.12). His 2.7 walks per nine innings also was the best rate of his career as he learned to pitch inside, a credo for Eiland.

“I just want to pick up where I left off,” Wheeler said.

He made 29 starts after only 17 total starts the three previous seasons, all those coming in 2017.

“I had the Tommy John and was out for two years, then the stress reaction in the arm,’’ said Wheeler, who also had to take shots in his stomach after the 2017 season to help build bone density. “It was nice to have a normal offseason.”

A year ago Wheeler told me: “You do a shot in your stomach every day for six months. It’s not fun, but you got to do it. They give it to people with brittle bones, osteoporosis.”

Now the talk is about the Cy Young.

“It’s a new regime, a new atmosphere,” he said of new general manager Brodie Van Wagenen. “You’re always excited when there is a good atmosphere around, and that is definitely what is happening this year. Nothing against the people in the past. Everybody is confident. Brodie made a lot of moves, and I think we got a lot of quality players to help us out and win a lot of games this year.”